Skim

Yep the week flew by and I have but a few brief moments before I've got to go to sleep! Went to a wedding on Monday, school and taking clients Tuesday-Thursday, the boyfriends family is in for the weekend, ate with them last night and spent the day at the resort they're residing.

Not taken by me as mine showed up too small but same place.

 Following the day poolside we went to persian food, which was my first time and I really enjoyed it! It was nice to just relax today, we both agreed it felt like we were on vacation just taking a few hours away from everything. Sometimes it's just taking a few hours that makes a world of difference in our lives! I'm looking forward to another laid back day tomorrow with church, house stuff and errands and of course laying by the pool.

   Lately I've just been really resting in peace that God has fully equipped me for whatever circumstance, person or sin I encounter. I sometimes think that I've gotten myself in too deep and I have to get out on my own or that I will never overcome certain repetitive sins. This week I was really feeling depleted and as if I had no way out but God reminded me that he has given me everything I need to follow him and rid my life of the junk. Praying about my situation and for strength in that area this week has given me a refreshed and renewed spirit that only Christ could give.

Easter Weekend RECAP

    Real real real quick recap (as I'm trying to get to bed by 11:30pm every night this week so I'm well-rested) on life these past few days. Friday night we went to the best place ever, Pita Jungle for Good Friday dinner, Saturday after work I went for a run which was very hot and following that we went to Target and Barnes and Noble so I could study then went to dinner at BJ's which is another one of our fav's, following that we hung out with some of our favorite pals. Sunday we went to the 9am service and celebrate our risen King, Jesus and ate a DELICIOUS breakfast at Cracker Barrel for my first time and this was our spread; (super blurry as it is a phone pic but you get the idea)

and following all this delicous food we went to the lake:

Well it's 4 minutes past my bedtime and I have to get up in less than 7 hours for another week of school. It's my last week of zone 4!

Season of Giving

Happy Last Sunday before CHRISTMAS! 

     This December has been especially meaningful to me as my life is in a much better place than last year, full of HOPE and JOY for what is, and what is to come!

Every single day I'm blown away by THIS!

Hiking Here!

Eating THIS x 783

Newest Creation;
Scooped out Cinnamon-Raisin bagel
Cream Cheese
Organic Peanut Butter
Nanners
Cinnamon/sugar 
Pure Maple Syrup
= DELICIOUS

+ some organic Strawberry jam

 A la mode a BIG Christmas tree!

 living with Her!

God is GOOD and in this season of giving I am reminded he has given me MORE THAN ENOUGH.

 "For a child is born to us,
      a son is given to us.
   The government will rest on his shoulders.
      And he will be called:
   Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
      Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."

-Isaiah 9:6

Pesudo-Entitlement.

Is it just me or is September an awesome month?! Not too cold (for those that live in the north) but not too hot (for those that live in the South), not to mention that there are birthday's galore! I think the autumn leaves are stunning too, since I live in a desert now my desktop background serves that purpose and does a dang good job! Well this post is going to be a record breaking quicky but maybe that's for the better of everyone.

Minnesota Autumn-ness

I often find myself frustrated and angry over a way I was treated or not treated. I will pour my heart out into the well being of others to help them and get nothing in return. I wonder if what I am doing by helping people is right or even beneficial to them at all? This morning it struck me we were not made to be served but to serve others. I am not made to be treated any certain way, rather that is a byproduct of how we live and treat others. We are served every single day by a God who does a whole lot more than help a friend out every now and then. Yea that lady just cut me off and that sales rep was a complete jerk but suck it up and MOVE ALONG. To truly serve is to live to give expecting nothing tangible in return. Having a servants heart produces blessings and joy far greater than any self-served act.

On a health front, Vitamins are amazing! A few weeks ago I stopped taking this bad-boy briefly because I ran out:

OH MY GOSH! They have made me feel so much better and made my skin

glowing again!

Caution: They do make you FIERCE.

²⁶ But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, ²⁷ and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. ²⁸ For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

-Matthew 20:26-28 (New Living Translation)

Seemingly Sporadic

The past few weeks have been exciting and spontaneous. I live for spontaneity and have no problems with it but this has taken it to a whole new level. Also I have began trying to incorporate more strength training into my life and though at first I was way disliking it, but I have finally found a good balance of what works for me. The trainer at the gym helped a lot also, he gave me an "endurance training" workout and I have been using it and enjoying it! Its basically doing each machine and/or exercise at a comfortable yet resistant weight doing about three reps of 15. Each person is different but I've just been hitting pretty much every muscle group and doing it quick, it's given me good results and takes me about 30 minutes and I usually do it 2-3 times a week. I have been SUPER hungry though which I was fighting at first then figured out I just needed to fuel with the right foods aka more protein.

Saturday was the Mr. Awesome and I's six month anniversary and wow! Talk about life in the fast lane. The past six months have flown by and have brought so much JOY. He put flowers and my favorite clif bar outside my door and later picked me up and we went up north to SEDONA, one of the most beautiful places on Earth!!! We ate at an AMAZING Mexican restaurant there.

Good stuff

and ate this:

Homemade Corn chips, salsa, carnitas (him)

&

chicken enchiladas with rice and beans!

followed by this:

Chocolate Mexican Ice Cream with raspberries.

Classic b&w

We walked around the town and enjoyed the 20 degree temperature drop and GREENERY!

Sunday at church Dr. Wayne Grudem spoke as was discussing Proverbs 4:23 "Guard your heart for it is the wellspring of life". This has been one of my favorite verses since around my freshman year after I began re-committing my life to Jesus! He talked about how our heart is our whole inner moral, spiritual life and our deepest convictions. He said something that I have been struggling with lately and that is that there may be times when we need to let go of good things because it is not part of our greater life plan. I was also reminded of how easily my heart can be deceived. Yes it is good but that doesn't mean there isn't room for any world influences to seep in and deceive us.

Though life can often seem sporadic and unorganized. That is what makes it so beautiful. God has a much more intricate, alluring piece of art painted for my life than any figment of my imagination. Yes, even that flat tire on my way to work is another colorful stroke to the masterpiece!

Catch Up

I know lately I've been slacking on the health and hair portion of this blog. It hasn't slipped my mind or I haven't completely lost my marbles yet (who's to judge that right?!) Really and truly so much has been revealed to me lately and I've trying out new ideas in the fitness realm that I've really had to take a step back and evaluate my life and what I want to make of it. But despite the circumstances I was able to go to one of my favorite places today and purchase ALL of this:

For... $20.00!!! Yes, amazing.

Nothing like a little produce pick me-up. Fresh blueberries, raspsberries, watermelon (yes I ate that within .05 seconds) and some Voskos greek yogurt... My eats have been far from phenomenal lately, that will be changing starting now. Summer just gets whirlwind crazy but then again when isn't life crazy?!

A lot on my heart lately and so much I've learned but that will have to wait for another post in the very near future! Hope and pray everyone is enjoying summer and sucking every day dry for what it's worth!

²⁸ Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

-Matthew 11:28-29

LOVE YOU & BLESSINGS!

The right kind of wrong

Today was one of those days were I was doin' my thang being Miss Independent from the moment I awoke. I had a list of things that NEEDED to be done and there wasn't anything in the world that was going to stop me. Those days where you just don't care about anything. You tell it how it is and move along. The world is spinning and you are just truckin along making your mark as you go. Telling those you love how you feel and letting those you don't live happily ever after hoping for their best.

I went on my run this morning and it was an utter FAIL. I made it about ONE mile and had to stop... I decided "OH WELL". You lose some, you win some. This one ain't a 'W' that's for sure, unless you mean walk of course. I went to the gym later and couldn't find an ounce of energy in me to do anything. I was in a haze and it felt GOOD. REALLY GOOD.

It's awesome to just have those days where you aren't sure about anything at all but realize the present is right here, right now and it needs to be SEIZED. I'm done worrying about how others feel, what tomorrow will look like, when I will have a career, where I will live and just overanalyzing what is to come.

To boot the kind of day I was having naturally 'Ramona & Beezus' with my lovely Mister was the only answer to all life's problems! This movie had an awesome underlying theme; live for the moment and be crazy, out of order, opinionated and persistent all while treating others with respect and honor. What a cute flick!

Today; I ate movie theatre buttered popcorn, only ran 1.5-2 miles, barely lifted at all, ate cereal way too late, didn't clean my room and forgot to call people BUT I was able to EMBRACE the day and take in what really matters.

At the end of the day I am reminded God is good and everything he has ever done, ever created or thought of is good!

You are good and do only good; teach me your decrees Psalm 119:68